Volcanic Eruption Covers Parking Lot at Iceland Resort

Lava flows erupted in southwest Iceland following a new volcanic eruption on Thursday, covering a parking lot at the “Blue Lagoon” resort, one of the country’s most iconic tourist attractions.

The lava engulfed an area designated for 350 cars as well as a space reserved for buses. It also destroyed a service building used for storing visitors’ luggage but did not affect the hot pools, which were protected by a safety wall.

Helga Arnadottir, the site’s director, told Morgunbladid newspaper that reopening the site to visitors depends on an assessment of the situation by authorities.

According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), the village of Grindavík and the “Blue Lagoon” resort were evacuated on Wednesday evening following the eruption at the Sundhnúkagígar volcanic fissure. This marks the seventh eruption in the area since the beginning of the year.

It is worth noting that most residents of Grindavík left the area after the first volcanic eruption last year. Volcanologists warn that volcanic activity on the Reykjanes Peninsula has entered a new phase, with Iceland experiencing more volcanic activity than any other European country.